Runner for wheeled vehicles



'(No Model.)

P. DRIFFILL.

RUNNER EUR WHEELED VEHICLES N0. 398,385. Patented'f'eb. 26, 1889.

WUWSSES. IME/V202.

N, PETERS. Phawumngnpher.'washinlon. I2C.

NITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE: d

FREDERICK DRIAFFILL, OF STERLING, ASSIGNOR TO THE EUREKA COMPANY, OF ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS.

RUNNER FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

sr'ncrrczxron forming part of Letters-Patent No. 398,385, dated February ee, 1889.

Applicata ned @Gaber is, 1888. sei-ln No. 288,520. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK DmFFILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Runner Attachments to IVheel Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures ot' reference marked thereon, which torm a part of this specification.

My invention consists in improvements in runner attachments to wheeled vehicles, by means of which the said vehicle may be readily converted into a sled or sleigh for use in the latter capacity during the winter season.

illy improvement consists, essentially, in a novel method of attaching each runner to the vehicle-axle at any point upon the latter, so as to adjust the tread of the sled or sleigh to such width as may be desired, and also in providing two separate bearings for the axle upon each runner, each ol' said bearin being of a pivotal character, so as to permit the independent vertical oscillation of each runner, and in the special form of the runner.

My invention is applica-ble generally to all species of wheeled conveyances, and inasmuch as the mode ot' attaching it is substantially the same in every instance, I do not deem it necessary to show or describe the same further than in its application to one species of vehicle.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective ot' a portion of a road-cart provided with my invention. Fig. is a detail of the point of junction between the axle and runners, showing the parts involved in securing the attachment to the runners otl said axle; and Fig. 2 is acrosssectiou on the line '.r ir ot' Fig. l of one ot' the runners C.

A is the body ol? the vehicle, which maybe ot' any ol' the well-known forms; and l, the axle thereof.

C C are runners, having the usual upwardlybent front ends, and are constructed of steel, consisting ot' the tread S and central upwardly-extending tia-nge, V.

As the parts in the construction of the attachment to each runner are the same, I will describe only those concerned in the attachment of one runner, it being understood, of course, that in a four-wheeled vehicle four runners will be required.

I) D are the bench-rods, attached atv their lower ends to the iiange V of runners C, and rest upon the upper side of the tread E is the rail, suitably attached at its front end near the top ol' the runner C, and extending to the rear about the same distance as said runner.

F is a brace-rod, attached at its lower end to one of the bench-rods D,and extending diag-v onally outward and upward, and attached at its upper and outer end to the rear end of a second diagonal rail, G, the front of which is suitably attached at or near the forward end of the rail E.

H is a metallic frame provided with upwardly-extending end projections, .I J, provided, respectively, with clips K K, adapted to embrace and thereby fasten the trame H to the axle B at any point on the latter. The frame or head H is also provided with downwardly-extending projections L L, the inner one of which is provided with the horizontal inwardly-projected journal M, which is loosely seated in the box N, suitably Afastened on the rail E. In the lower end of the outer arm L there is formed a round transverse hole, O, into which is projected and loosely seated the conforming end or pintle P of the rod F.

The attachment of the arms K of the frame H to the axle B is rigid; but the seating aforesaid of the arms L to said frame is pivotally in the line of the movement of the vehicle. It results, therefore, that the runners C are t'ree to oscillate in a vertical plaire.

The interval between the bearings M and O is sufficiently great to prevent the rocking laterally of the body B upon said runner.

As before observed, the frame H can be atiached to the axle B at any point upon the latter, and thereby adjust the interval between the runners C to conform to the width of the track upon which the same are intended to be used; or, as is frequently the case, particularly on count-ry roads, the runners can be IOO placed so as to carry the center of the vehicle slightly to one side of the line of the horses movement.

' R R are straps, attached at their lower ends to the forward end of the runners C and at their upper ends to any suitable part of the vehicle to prevent any oasual reversing' of said runners.

y My invention not only affords a cheap mode of converting Wheeled vehicles into sleighs or sleds, but my special form of attachment is new and advantageous in being adapted to attach the runners C to the axle B at any point of the latter, and thereby space or vary the tread of the sled or sleigh as may be desired.

The advantage of thc 1 -shaped runner is that it affords the greatest breadth of tread and the greatest strength in a vertical plane in proportion to the quantity of material employed; also,vthe iiauge V affords a eonyen ient locality for the attachment of the rod D. The tread S supports the latter endwise and precludes the possibility of said rods projecting below the tread of said ruimer. The lower surface of the runner C is also a continuous one, unbroken byholes or recesses, as is now common.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

l. The combination of the runner C, belichrods D D, rails E and G, brace-rod F, provided with pintle P, box N, the Vhead l-l, provided with clips K K, journal M, and opening O, and the axle B, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the runner C, provided with the tread S and central vertical iiange, V, bench-rods D D, having their lower ends suitably supported on said tread and attached to said flange, the rail E, supported on said runner and bench-rods, the axle B, and means, substantially as shown, for removably seating said axle on said rail, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK DRIFFILL.

NVitnesses: Y

JOHN G. MANAHAN, EDGAR G. BAUM. 

